Non-slip tuning peg for string instruments played by bows



Nov. 18, 1969 R. c. JUZEK 3,

NON-SLIP TUNING PEG FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS PLAYED BY BOWS Filed Nov. 9. 1967 l ENTOR F/GZZ I W 90 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,478,636 NON-SLIP TUNING PEG FOR STRING INSTRUMENTS PLAYED BY BOWS Robert C. Juzek, 570 River Vale Road, River Vale, NJ. 07675 Filed Nov. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 681,856 Int. Cl. Gllld 3/14 US. Cl. 84-305 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The non-slip tuning peg for string type instruments that are played by bows, specifically violins, violas, and cellos, is made of molded material, preferably of nylon. The tuning peg consists of three parts, to wit: (1) a tapered, round peg shaft that will fit the respective holes in the walls of the peg box of these instruments, (2) a retaining ring, and (3) a screw. The peg shaft has a longitudinal hole, extending inwardly from the small end of peg shaft. The retaining ring has flanges and a head portion, which head portion has an inward downwardl tapered friction surface; the flanges thereof fit inside the hole of the peg shaft. The screw is of a diameter to fit inside the hole of the retaining ring, and it threads itself into the hole. Upon tightening the screw the peg shaft is drawn further into the respective holes in the walls of the peg box of the instrument. This produces firm seating of the peg shaft in the holes in the walls of the peg box of the instrument, so that the tuning peg cannot back out, and hence become loose, resulting in de-tuning the string on the peg. The holes in the walls of the peg box are not of the same diameter and circumference, but that one nearer the retaining ring is the smaller of the two, which enables the tapered, round peg shaft to fit into the respective holes.

This invention relates to a non-slip tuning peg for stringed type musical instruments that are played by bows, more specifically violins, violas, and cellos; it is suitable for all sizes of these musical instruments. The non-slip tuning peg of this invention is made except for a screw of molded material that can be worked like wood, if not better than wood. The tuning peg posesses almost the same, or as much as possible, the appearance of the conventional wooden peg, and thereby preserving the aesthetic appearance of the instrument. This tuning peg is suitable for these aforesaid instruments not only of students but also for those of professional players and artists as well.

This invention, moreover, relates to a non-slip tuning peg for these types musical instruments, that turns smoothly, yet is firmly seated in the tapered holes in the walls of the peg box, so that the tension of the string will not cause the peg to slip back, whereby the string becomes tie-tuned. A bane of string musical instruments that are played by bows is such slippings. When turning the conventional wooden pegs on such instruments to tune the strings to the correct pitch, it is often necessary to exert pressure on the peg to maintain this firm seating in the peg box; this must be done in addition to the use of normal pressure to turn the peg for the tuning itself.

A significant advantage of the use of the tuning pegs of the present invention, which is made except for a screw from molded plastics material that can be worked like Wood, more specifically nylon, is that the new tuning pegs of this invention can be fitted individually to each peg hole, as are the conventional, wooden pegs. By molding the original blank slightly over-sized than the standard tuning peg, the peg of the present invention can be fitted to any standard size violin, viola, or cello. Or instead, using another practice that is standard, the musical instrument craftsman can ream the hole out slightly with the correct taper, to accommodate the peg to be placed in the peg hole. This aspect is of practical importance, for by the expedients just described there is obviated any major alteration to the peg box which could even ruin the instrument in fact.

The tuning pegs of the present invention can be removed from the stringed instruments, and replaced by the original or other wooden tuning pegs if the person so desires.

The applicant does not assert that he has offered the music store or the performer the first mechanical peg other than the long employed conventional mechanical peg made from wood. Some of the mechanical pegs on the market have the disadvantage, in fact, that to use them major changes are required to the peg box; this tends to ruin, not only the peg box but also the complete neck of the stringed instrument.

Most of the unconventional, or mechanica as they are called, tuning pegs on the market do not retain the true form, because they are composed of many parts and their respective complicated designs do not permit this. That is one great reason for their lack of favor or acceptance. Most of the unconventional tuning pegs on the market are bulky and/ or chrome plated or possess some appearance that does not take an expert, even from some distance, to perceive that the string musical instrument is fitted with something which conveys thereto the dont belong or non-acceptable appearance. Furthermore, many of these mechanical tuning pegs, that are known to the present inventor, do not convey the true form of the customary tuning pegs, since their many parts and complicated design do not allow this.

There is a patent to Harry Dorrell, identified as #1,328,824 issue date of Ian. 27, 1920, on a violin tapered peg which has an object to afford a peg adhering to the common and ancient form, and so related to the box portion of the violin head as to produce a permanent frictional relation therebetween that will not require in ordinary tuning any other manipulation of the peg except that of turning on its axis. From its FIG- URES 1 and 2, the violin itself as well as each peg maintain the ancient and familiar shapes. As that patentee correctly states: this ancient appearance is maintained because tradition and sentiment all tend to a desire to maintain original conditions and appearance of volins, which desire is demonstrated by the fact that practically no change for two hundred years has been made. This patented invention does possess that asset which is not associated with mechanical pegs that are customarily available in music stores. But this invention has 4 parts in addition to the key box or peg box. It is more complicated than applicants invention.

The tuning peg of the present invention is characterized by three (3) parts, namely, (1) a round tapering peg shaft to fit the respective holes in the walls of the peg box of the string musical instrument, (2) a retaining ring having a centered hole, and also with its two flanges projecting inwardly, and a (3) a screw. The peg shaft has a longitudinal hole therein extending inwardly from the small end of the peg shaft and a slot that bisects the small end of the peg shaft and extends inwardly, whereby to receive the two flanges of the retaining ring. The retaining ring has a head portion characterized by an inward, downwardly tapered friction surface; the flanges of the retaining ring fit inside the slot of the peg shaft. The screw has a diameter that permits it to fit inside the hole in the retaining ring and this screw threads itself into the walls of the hole in the peg shaft. Upon tightening the screw the peg shaft is drawn further into the respective holes in the walls of the peg box of the instrument since the downwardly tapered surface of the retaining ring is forced with continuing greater force against the inside edge at the small end of the peg shaft. When this is done, one of the major objects of the present invention is accomplished, to wit: not only smooth turning of the peg but also the peg becomes firmly seated in the tapered holes of the peg box, so that the tension of the tuned string is easily maintained because of this constant firm seating referred to before.

The metallic screw customarily has a slot in the upper surface for the use of a screw driver or similar tool in tightening the screw in reference to the tapered peg shaft, hence pressing the tapering outer surface of the tuning peg continuously tighter against the outer wall of the peg box, and as a result holding the peg shaft more firmly to the two walls of the peg box.

As mentioned supra, the non-slip tuning peg of the pres ent invention is formed from material that is molded; nylon is preferred. One disadvantage of the conventional wooden peg is the fact that it is affected by changing climatic conditions, and as a result the wooden peg will tend to stick to the peg hole and therefore not turn smoothly. It is true that this conventional type peg can be removed from the peg box of the string musical instrument, and then lubricated with a special compound made for this purpose for continued smooth operation of the instrument. But with nylon peg of the present invention this trouble is almost completely eliminated. Furthermore, due to the nature of the molded plastic material itself (nylon), the peg is partly self-lubricating. The nylon peg is also not affected by changing climatic conditions. However, when the pegs of this invention are initially fitted, a small amount of peg soap, or just ordinary household soap in bars is used on the surface of the pegs; but the amount applied should be small and it will last indefinitely. If ever it should be necessary to lubricate the nylon peg again, the simplicity of the design thereof allows it to be taken out and replaced in just a matter of seconds in time. Another advantage of the present invention is not only its simplicity of design, i.e., only three parts, but also that as indirectly brought out supra, all these parts are under constant tension at all times. In this resultant condition the possibility of rattling of the causing of over-tones is disconnected. With the use of mechanical pegs on the market of which the inventor of the present invention has knowledge, after a period of time those undesirable tonal faults have been noticed.

In the accompanying drawing consisting of two views, there has been illustrated a preferred embodiment of this invention, and like characters of reference have been employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of the non-slip tuning peg of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view with parts in cross section.

Referring specifically to thet drawing, FIGURE 2 shows the peg shaft, numbered 1, whose tapered surface, numbered 2, has been shaved down, if neceessaiy, to conform to the taper of peg hole, numbered 10, in wall A and to a diameter and circumference that will also it to enter the smaller hole 11 in wall B of the peg box. From FIG URE 1, it will be ovserved that there is a slot, numbered 4, in the smaller end of the peg shaft, and there is a hole, numbered 3, extending a distance length-wise in the peg shaft. The peg shaft should be pushed in firmly in the said holes in the walls of the peg box, so that when in the position shown in FIGURE 2, it will turn smoothly and be seated well enough to withstand tension of the violin string stretched a full note above the correct tuning pitch. The string, not shown is fastened to the shaft of the peg through a hole, the placement of which hole is customarily determined and drilled by the person fitting the peg.

At this point in assembling the parts, the retaining ring, numbered 5, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,, is pushed toward the peg slot, numbered 4, in the peg shaft, so that its flanges, numbered 5' enter the slot 4. The screw, numbered 8, is then inserted through opening, numbered 5" in the retaining ring, and thereupon when the said screw is turned in the direction to tighten, threads itself into hole 3, so the peg cannot come back out of the peg hole numbered 11 in the inner wall of the peg box. The molded nylon accepts the screw easily, when pressure is applied to the screw by a screw driver or equivalent device. The retaining ring not only carries the screw with it to prevent its loosening, but it affords an additional friction surface, numbered 6 (FIG. 1), to prevent peg slippage. If at any time there is any slippage noticed, then the screw is tightened slightly with the result that the peg is drawn further into the tapered peg hole, numbered 11, creating greater friction against the surfaces of holes 10 and 11; this act will also increase the tension and friction afforded by the retaining ring against the outer edge, numbered 9, of peg hole 11 in wall B of the peg box.

An additional advantage in the use of nylon is that, from aesthetic viewpoint, it can be found in the same color and shade as the finish of the violin, viola or cello, whereby the peg made in accordance with the present invention will match not only in appearance the conventional wooden peg as mentioned supra, but also in color and shade the musical instrument itself.

I claim as my invention:

1. A non-siip tuning peg for string type musical instruments played by a bow comprising a molded plastic round peg shaft that tapers to fit the respective holes in the walls of the peg box of the musical instrument, and a round hole in the said peg shaft extending lengthwise from the small end of the peg shaft, the said peg shaft having a slot extending across its small end and inwardly from its outer end, a molded plastic retaining ring having a centered hole, and inwardly projecting flanges of size to fit into said slot, the retaining ring having a head that has an inward, downwardly tapered friction surface for engagement with the outer edge of the hole in the wall of the peg box, a screw of a diameter to frictionally fit inside the hole of the peg shaft, whereby when the screw is tightened it forms threads in the walls of the hole of the molded plastic material, whereby the peg shaft is drawn further into the holes in the walls of the peg box.

2. A non-slip tuning peg of string musical instruments played by bow, as set out in claim 1, wherein the peg shaft is made of nylon.

3. A non-slip tuning peg of string musical instruments played by bow, as set out in claim 1, wherein the screw 4 has a head with a recess therein for operation by means of screw driver.

4. In a non-slip tuning peg for string type musical instruments played by a bow, a molded plastic round peg shaft that tapers to fit the respective holes in the walls of the peg box of the musical instrument and having a round, centered longitudinal hole in the said peg shaft extending from the small end of the peg shaft, the said peg shaft having a slot extending across its small end and inwardly from its outer end, and a molded retaining 5 1 ring having inwardly projecting flanges of size to fit into the said slot, the retaining ring having a head that has an inwardly, downwardly tapered friction surface tQ press against the outer edge of the hole in the peg box/and a centered hole in said retaining ring through which a screw can be inserted.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 683,967 10/1901 Mollenhauer 84305 711,396 10/1902 Gregg 84305 6 1,328,824 1/1920 Dorrell 84305 1,832,379 11/1931 Gilbert 84-304 3,240,097 3 1966 Jaquith 84304 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 18,052 2/1914 Erance. 5 1 6,7 37 4/ 1921 lfrance.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner 10 I. F. GONZALES, Assistant Examiner UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,478,636 November 18, 1969 Robert C. Juzek It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

second occurrence, should read Column 3, line 60,

d discounted or line 61, "disconnected" should rea Column 4, line 66, cancel "4".

Signed and sealed this 18th day of August 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

